Coco Gauff is looking to add a second Grand Slam title to her trophy cabinet with a win at the French Open.
The American star has enjoyed a fantastic clay-court campaign in 2025, reaching two WTA 1000 finals on the surface.
In Madrid, Gauff came up short against Aryna Sabalenka before losing to home favorite Jasmine Paolini in the final of the Italian Open.
Looking to go one better in Paris, Gauff won her opening match in straight sets, dominating Australia’s Olivia Gadecki, 6-2, 6-2.
After the match, Roger Federer’s former coach, Paul Annacone, explained why he considers Gauff to be the favorite for the title.
Paul Annacone thinks ‘tremendous athlete’ Coco Gauff is favorite for Roland Garros
Appearing on the Tennis Channel Live podcast, Annacone gave his verdict on Gauff’s chances at the French Open.
“She went out and started off extremely well,” he said.
“Coco [Gauff] has built up so much confidence during the clay court season already, feeling really good.
“I would argue that she is the favourite in this tournament.”
The American shared insight into the technical improvements Gauff has made, which could propel her to glory in Paris.
“I just think the movement and ability to control with her two-hander and the fact that she has been hitting her forehand a little bit better during this clay court swing is going to pay huge dividends,” said Annacone.
“It just looks like she belongs up at the net; she is a tremendous athlete.”
Gauff forgot her rackets before her opening match against Gadecki, as Annacone now jokes about the world number two’s mishap.
“This would have been really difficult without her racket, but once she got out there, she was sharp,” he said.
Gauff will return to the court to take on Czech teenager Tereza Valentova on Thursday, May 29.
When will Coco Gauff face her first big test at the French Open?
The 21-year-old was a heavy favorite for her opening match in Paris, as she will likely be for her second and third round matches, taking on players ranked outside the world’s top 40.
- 1R v Olivia Gadecki (91st)
- 2R v Tereza Valentova (172nd)
- 3R v Marie Bouzkova (47th) or Sonay Kartal (56th)
Her fourth round match could prove tricky, however, as a former French Open champion may well await her in the last 16.
Czechia’s Barbora Krejcikova won Roland Garros in 2021, to clinch her first Grand Slam, before doubling her tally with victory at Wimbledon in 2024.
She’s struggled in Paris since and failed to win a match at the event in 2022, 2023, and 2024 before she won her opener in 2025 against Tatjana Maria, 7-6, 6-3.
The 29-year-old has only just returned from injury after missing five months of action due to severe back problems.
With that being said, at her best, she is one of the most dangerous players on tour, something Gauff will no doubt be wary of should they face off in round four.
Krejcikova beat Gauff in their most recent encounter at the 2024 WTA Finals, coming through a 7-5, 6-4 winner in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The Czech star also beat Gauff en route to her maiden Roland Garros title in 2021, taking her down 7-6, 6-3 to advance to the last four.
Leading the head-to-head 2-0, Krejcikova will surely be confident of beating Annacone’s French Open favorite once more, should they both make their way through to the fourth round.
If Gauff were to secure her first career win against Krejcikova and advance to the quarterfinals, she’d then likely be faced with two all-American clashes in her quarter and semi-final matches.
Coco Gauff’s projected route to the final by ranking
- QF v Madison Keys (8th)
- SF v Jessica Pegula (3rd)
- F v Aryna Sabalenka (1st)
Having achieved more success at Roland Garros than Madison Keys, Jessica Pegula, and Sabalenka, Gauff could well be considered the favorite for all three matches.
Gauff has reached the quarterfinals in each of her previous four visits to the French capital, as she continues to shine on the Parisian clay.
| Year | Round lost in | Opponent | Score |
| 2024 | SF | Iga Swiatek | 2-6, 4-6 |
| 2023 | QF | Iga Swiatek | 4-6, 2-6 |
| 2022 | F | Iga Swiatek | 1-6, 3-6 |
| 2021 | QF | Barbora Krejcikova | 6-7, 3-6 |
| 2020 | 2R | Martina Trevisan | 6-4, 2-6, 5-7 |
If that form carries over to the 2025 French Open, perhaps Annacone will be proven right and Gauff will lift the Suzanne-Lenglen Cup for the first time.
She won’t want to get too far ahead of herself, however, and will first focus on her second-round opponent, Valentova.
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